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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Year 1 child had accident at school and they had no spare clothes - AIBU?

380 replies

ArtemisFlop · 25/04/2021 00:28

I'd appreciate views about this as I'm turning it over in my mind and feel really uncomfortable (cross!)
DD in year 1 had an accident at school on Thursday, apparently not long before pick up time. This hasn't happened in year 1 before, pretty unusual for DD. In reception we took spare clothes to school but hadn't thought of it when we went back to school after the last lockdown ending in March. After-school nanny called me at work sounding quite worried and said she didn't know what to do as she has been due to take the kids to older child's activity but the TA had handed DD over to her in the playground at pick up time and DD was absolutely soaked. Nanny asked TA if they'd got some spare clothes so she could change her before coming home and TA said they don't have spare clothes and would usually just call a parent and ask them to come in with some but as it had happened so close to pick up they didn't think there'd be time. Nanny ended up bringing both kids straight home so DD could change but we live 30 minutes walk or a 15 minute bus ride from school so DD was wet through all that time plus however long it was before end of the school day that she wet herself. Nanny also told me the conversation about this took place in front of a bunch of DD's classmates and other parents. She said she felt like they just couldn't wait to hand over DD so it was someone else's problem.
I saw the TA in the playground the next day whilst handing over spare clothes for DD which I'll ask them to keep on her leg in case of any further incidents. I told her I was very surprised and disappointed they hadn't been able to offer a change of clothes. T A was apologetic but kept saying 'but I expected to see you shortly' as if the problem had been that nanny picked up and not me. I told her whether it was me or the nanny DD would have the same journey home. But the TA just said they don't have clothes for children and mumbled something about COViD. Have since received an email from the class teacher basically saying the same thing (ie sorry, not sorry).
For info this is a very large primary with a wide catchment and so there'll be many other families who don't live on the doorstep.
AIBU or should primary schools have a change of clothes for the occasional accidents and not leave children in wet clothes until parents arrive?

OP posts:
Loopylobes · 25/04/2021 22:32

Dignity is clearly hugely important but it doesn't take more priority than ensuring all of the children in my class are safely dismissed to the correct carer or potentially putting them all in danger by leaving them alone to wander off, and that includes the wet child.

I haven't said that it does.

School staff are hugely stretched and saying they are lazy is a kick in the teeth.

I haven't said that they are. I have said that "like any other profession, there are a few crap, lazy school staff".

Twisting people's words doesn't win you any arguments.

I'm sorry this has touched such a nerve with you. You have said repeatedly that you don't believe that the incident was acceptable and you would have found a way to to help this child yourself in this situation so I'm not really sure why we're arguing.

Maybe it's better just to agree to disagree? Flowers

AnxiousAnxiousChild · 26/04/2021 08:11

My DD is year 2 and still has regular toilet accidents (medical condition school aware as are numerous doctors) and they told me to send a spare uniform in a named carrier bag. They no longer help her change (covid) but do tell her to go and get her spare uniform and change then call me so I can get a spare uniform ready to swap over with the TA at pickup (if I gave it to DD it'd get lost between drop off at the gate in the morning and her peg) so I'd just make sure she has a spare uniform in future. Schools may not have a policy on Year 1 and above because by now they'd have grown out of accidents but due to covid a lot are delayed/regressing.

drspouse · 30/04/2021 19:53

We send in outgrown pants/really badly stained polos so far up to Y2 and they have never been refused as spares for the classroom. Nobody is going to catch COVID from spare pants.

Lancrelady80 · 30/04/2021 20:56

Dd fell flat in a puddle by the mud kitchen at school, then got up by rolling her dry side into it. Sopping wet and muddy from top to toe, including new trainers. (She's Reception.) This was 2:30ish so they didn't bother ringing as by the time they had my husband would have picked her up anyway.

She came home in spare (albeit over-sized) clothes, from knickers to spare shoes.

It's not Covid, it's the school.

To be fair, it could be the school's approach and risk assessment due to Covid. But it is them.

Wineisrequired · 01/05/2021 06:55

Firstly I hope your son/daughter is ok as it sounds like a lack of care provided by the school. They should have a plan in place for this type of thing. The not calling you part is bad and I would be so angry if my child was made to wait around in wet clothes.

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